auto shifting question?

[jeepmaster]

1060903

i have a quick transmission question, on the gearbox of an automatic there is usually the 1, 2, 3, Drive, nuetral, reverse park etc. is it hard on the transmission to pretend you have a manual and click it from 1 to 2 then to 3 and so on? i dont do it it, but i have a couple friends who do. others give them crap about it saying they're ruining their transmissions, but they've been doing it since they started driving and none of their transmissions seem to be showing wear, in fact one of the friends who suggested NOT doing it just had to replace his. just wanted to clear this up and i know several of you out there that have a pretty good grasp on transmissions. thanks[addsig]

 

[MudDawg]

1060975

Manual shifting in itself isnt real bad..but auto trans uses planetary reduction..if you hold it in a low gear a lot...the gears may wear sooner than normal...but the most frequent killer is lack of maintenance and heat...combine that with the soft slippery shift of a stock auto...you get wear...install or have installed a quality shift kit if one is available for your transmission...or get some reprogramming if it is an electronic...add a fluid cooler if you off-road, pull loads, or spend a lot of time in stop and go traffic...and for goodness sake...keep it serviced...and if it happens to die on you anyway...have it remanufactured by someone who understands what you need and how to provide it.

Dawg[addsig]

 

[remember5]

1061179

I live on a ridge that requires driving down a long grade every day. I always put my transmission in 2 when I start down, and that helps save the brakes. I havn't had any transmission trouble in 4 years, but that is different from manually shifting. My Jaguar has a specific detent so you can shift back and forth between D and 2 but you have to move the lever to get into first, and the owners manual says its ok to shift and even gives suggested shift speeds. Its got a GM turbo 400 in it.[addsig]

 

[jeepmaster]

1061194

so its not as bad for the transmission as they say? obviously it wears it faster, but not like at an incredible rate?[addsig]

 

[bluebelle]

1061208

not bad for the transmission at all, so long as you adhere to the rpm's the unit was designed for. consider that without the hydraulics determining when to shift, it'll be you. i've done it forever (well . . . ) with no ill effects.

just remember they're rather rugged unless pushed beyond their designed tolerances.

agree with dawg's reco to get a shift kit installed, a b&m floor shifter, some tric plates, and you'll be rolling.

hard to shift as fast as a hopped-up auto with a manual. and there's nothing better than a human determining what gear the rig should be in. autos are great when stuck in traffic; otherwise, manuals bring life into the ride.

but consider that i have a short attention span and need to be doing something while i'm driving - shifting helps. :lol:
[addsig]

 

[IcyFridge]

1061964

My transmission is an AW4 auto. I converted into a "manual auto". I can go 1, 2, 3, and 4. However, the worst thing you can do is start in a high gear and the Jeep will strain to start off in that gear. That will create excessive and I mean excessive heat that can wipe out your transmission quickly. If I were you, I would just drive normally and use an imaginary shifter instead of goofing around with the current transmission....[addsig]